Dr Sim (third left) hands over the mock cheque to a representative from Marudi District Council for winning the Best Innowaste Exhibition Competition. Looking on are (from left) Ting, Antonio, Dr Penguang (second right) and Shahabudin.
MIRI: Marudi District Council was crowned the champion at the ‘Best Innowaste Exhibition Competition’ at Permaisuri Imperial City Mall here yesterday.
As the winner, the council walked away with a cash prize of RM1,000 while the second and third place winners namely Subis District Council and Miri City Council won RM800 and RM500 respectively.
Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian presented the prizes to the winners of the competition which was held in conjunction with Innowaste Programme 2020.
Also present were Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting, Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni, Sarawak Federal Secretary Datuk Mohd Shahabudin Omar, Ministry of Local Government and Housing permanent secretary Datu Antonio Kahti Galis, acting Miri Resident Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf and Miri mayor Adam Yii.
The Innowaste Programme 2020, organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing in collaboration with MCC, was held in conjunction with the State Civil Service Innovation Week 2020.
Earlier, Antonio in his speech said creative and innovative culture is one of the pillars in the State Civil service Action Plan 2010-2020.
“This plan serves as the focus and structure of the Sarawak public sector’s transformation process,” he said.
By continuously practising the culture of innovation, he believed that it will be able to increase excellence in the delivery of government services to the people in line with current changes.
On the Innowaste Programme, he said local authorities are encouraged to organise the programme more often so as to highlight the importance of recycling to the community through the neighbourhood committee, village development and security committee and schools under the respective council’s jurisdiction areas.
He said by getting the community involved in recycling efforts, this in turn helps local authorities in addressing issues on uncontrolled waste disposal, river pollution, clogged drains and others.
A total of 14 agencies comprising local authorities, government agencies, non-governmental organisation (NGOs), private sector and communities took part in the two-day Innowaste Programme to showcase their innovations and initiatives in reducing waste.
The event aimed to strengthen the spirit of love for the environment; enhance interaction between communities through social and recreational activities; promote a sense of responsibility in preserving the environment; and introduce 3R (recycle, reuse and reduce) activities through innovation and creativity.